Developing low-carbon energy systems is a cornerstone of achieving cities carbon neutrality targets set in cities' climate and energy plans. Cities and municipalities have an important role in leading the shift towards low-carbon energy systems. Sustainability and carbon neutrality targets need to be taken into account in all levels and phases of the process from overall city and regional planning to detailed planning and from building and constructions to using the buildings in a smart way.

Cooperation between local authorities, energy companies, companies providing energy solutions as well as citizens and users is needed to find the most cost effective and carbon neutral energy solutions on district and building level.

The webinar will showcase examples from cities in the Baltic Sea region on implementing sustainable energy solutions as well as present a new funding instrument - European City facility that supports local investments in sustainable energy. In the webinar we will hear results from two pilots implemented in Turku and Tampere within Energy Wise Cities – a cooperation project between 6 biggest cities in Finland. The cities had the aim to boost the role of the participating cities towards international example areas of energy-efficient housing, zero energy construction, diversified energy systems, energy efficiency monitoring and end user guidance.  Turku will focus on how life cycle assessment and carbon footprint calculation is used as part of city’s building projects. Tampere will showcase how to create an urban district that produces more energy than it consumes.

Contact: Maija Rusanen, maija.rusanen(at)turku.fi, UBC Sustainable Cities Commission